Celluloid record-blank.



HQMAS EDISON, 0F LLEWELLYN PARK, 'WEST ORANGE. NEW JERSEY. ASSIGNOB TONEWJELRSEY PATENT COMPANY, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERgEY, A CORPORATION5333 NEW JERSEY.

CELL-ULOID RECORD-BLANK.

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No Drawing,

To r/ZZ "1071,0171 it may concern. j Be it known that l. luou.\s A.lunrson, a

citizen of the United- States. and a resident of Llewellyn Park. \VestOrange, in the county of Esselv and State of New Jersey. have inventedcertain new and usefulilm provements in Celluloid Record-Blanks of whichthe followimr is a description.

My invention relates to elluloid articles such as record blanks, andmore particularly,

1 but not exclusively. to those of cylindrical form. The object of myinvention is to pro vide an improved record blank oi the above typewhich is provided with a true and suitably ,colored surface capable ofreceiving an accurate impression from a sound record mold.

Celluloid may be obtained in the market in desired form and of desiredthickness for fact that the surface of the connnercial cel liiloid isfilled with small pits and other defects which are not ei'l'aced andthereby prevent the accurate molding of the celluloid whenfas hasheretofore. been done. the surface of the celluloid in its commercialcondition is pressed against the record surface of the mold. In orderto'obviate this objection, I remove the defective outer portion of thecon'nnercial celluloid, as by abrasion or turn-,

ing. in practice, I find that the removal of an outer portion to a depthof .001 of an inch is sutli'cient to produce a true surface which iscapable of receiving a true impression of the record undulations withoutthe defects producing the surface noises hereinbetore referred to. v

The next step in the formation of my improved record blank consists indyeing the outer surface of the celluloid cylinder or other blank insuch a manner as not to injure the elasticity, molding qualities, andother desired properties of the celluloid.

- The dyes I prefer to use, that is, anilin dyes,

are soluble in alcohol and acetone; but as camphor, which is one of theingredients oi celluloid, is soluble 1n alcohol and acetone, at

Patented July 2st, 1 'Elllli Application filed September 16, 1912.Serial No. 720,472.

solution of these dyes in either of the above. solvents would, itapplied to the surface of the celluloid blank, partly dissolve the.camphor from the celluloid and injure the elasticity of the blank andthe capability of the latter to be accurately molded. l obviate thisobjection by adding to a solution of the dye in alcohol or acetonesufficient water to preventthe camphor in the celluloid from going intosolution when the dye is applied to the surface of the celluloid. I haveobtained good results with a solution containing about two parts byweight of water to one part by weight of alcohol solvent and three partsby weight of water to one part by weight of acetone solvent. Suchsolutions as those specified above.

soften the celluloid su'fl'iciently to permit proper absorption of the,dye and at the same next remote the cylinder irom the solution and washthe same with water until all of the surplus solution on the cylinder isremoved. lhis washinc' insures the uniform dyeing of the cylinder.Finally, I dry the cylinder in the atmosphere or in any other suitableway. I

The improved record blank obtained as described above has a true outersurface capable ot receiving an accurate record impression. It has itsouter siu't'acesuitably colored; and its elasticity and moldingqualities are unimpaired. Accordingly, when the recordundulations areimpressed therein it produces a soundrecord of greatly improved acousticproperties. I i 1 laring now described my invention, what I claim as newand desire to protect by Let ters Patent is as follows:

1. The process of making record blanks or the like which comprisesapplying to the surface of acellu'loid blank an acetone solution ot dyewhich will not dissolve the cannins phor in the celluloid, then washingthe blank, and finally drying the same, substantially as set forth.

2. The process of making record blanks or the like which comprisesapplying to the surface of a celluloid blank a solution of dye containinacetone as a solvent for the dye and suflicient water to prevent theacetone from dissolving the camphor in the celluloid during the dyeingoperation, then washing the blank, and finally drying the same, substantially as set forth.

3. The process of making record blanks or the like which comprisesapplying to the surface of a celluloid blank or the like a stantially asset forth.

4. The process of making celluloid sound record blanks or the like whichcomprises solvent therefor other than Water, and a quantity of water inexcess of the solvent, substantially as described.

5. The process of making celluloid record blanks or the like, whichcomprises removing the surface portion of the celluloid, and

then dyeing the surface of the celluloid With a solution which will notdissolve the camphor in the celluloid, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 12th day of September,1912.

THOS. A. EDISON.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK BACHMANN, MARY J. LAIDLAW.

